The purpose of this study is to learn more about why patients with diabetes have increased heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses due to blood clots causing blockage of a blood vessel. The proposed protocol will study the separate and combined effects of high glucose and high fats on certain cardiovascular responses in Type 2 DM.

Currently 75-80% of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients die due to thrombotic causes. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in 2000 indicated that mortality due to coronary artery disease is decreasing except in individuals with diabetes. Clearly the disordered metabolism, which includes abnormal metabolism of fats resulting in higher triglyceride and free fatty acid blood levels, occurring in diabetes predisposes these individuals to increased thrombotic events. Unless the underlying mechanisms responsible for these events can be identified, there will be an unprecedented number of diabetic patients suffering thrombotic episodes in the next 10 years.

The specific aims of this study are to determine the effects of elevated free fatty acids and hyperglycemia (high glucose)on endothelial function and thrombolytic balance in patients with type 2 diabetes, and to determine the effects of increased insulin in this setting.

Volunteers over 40 years old: an ECG with no clinically significant conduction or ischemic changes.

For those with type 2 diabetes: HBA1C > 5.5%

For those with type 2 diabetes: C-peptide >0.2 nmol, If C-peptide is abnormal or there is a clinical suspicion for type 1 diabetes, MODY or LADA, anti-islet cell and anti-GAD antibodies will be assessed to establish the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes vs. type 1/LADA/MODY.

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00829699